Live updates from the Final Four: Michigan, Villanova advance

Jason BlakeneyGatehouse Media

Saturday

Mar 31, 2018 at 4:43 PMMar 31, 2018 at 9:36 PM

Key plays from the opening game of the Final Four in San Antonio.

GAME 2 — SECOND HALF

0:00 — Mercifully, this one comes to an end. Kansas was flat from the start and never got into the game. Villanova wins easily and will play Michigan for the championship Monday. Villanova 95, Kansas 79.

7:55 — Kansas made a bit of a run and closed the lead to 14 momentarily, but Villanova just won't let the Jayhawks back in the game. Three Wildcats are in double digits, led by Eric Paschall with 22. Jalen Brunson has has 14. Kansas is being led by Devonte' Graham with 16 and Malik Newman with 14. Villanova 74, Kansas 57.

11:58 — It seems only a matter of time now before Villanova clinches it spot against Michigan in the title game. The Wildcats have hit a Final Four record 17 3-pointers and have not attempted a free throw in dominating the Kansas. The Jayhawks haven't been able to climb out of an early hole and still trail by 20. Villanova 67, Kansas 47.

13:49 — In the first half, Villanova dominated on the outside, now they are doing their damage on the inside, too. Eric Paschall has 10 points in the second half, and Villanova has opened its lead to 20 points. Devote' Graham has a pair of second-half 3-pointers for Kansas, but Villanova now has hit 16 3-pointers. Kansas has 16 total field goals. Villanova 62, Kansas 42.

GAME 1 — FIRST HALF

0:00 — It isn't that Kansas is playing terribly, it's that Villanova is shooting 3s like they are layups. Thirteen of the Wildcats' 17 field goals in the first half were from 3-point range. Galen Brunson leads all scorers with 13 points and is the only Villanova player in double digits. Devonte' Graham has 10 points for Kansas. Villanova 47, Kansas 32. Halftime.

2:57 — Welcome to the record book, Wildcats. Villanova now has 13 3-pointers in the game, tied for the most in a game at any Final Four. Galen Brunson is leading the way with 11 points (3-of-5 from 3), and the Wildcats' lead is 15. Villanova 43, Kansas 28.

6:52 — No team ever has made more than 13 3-pointers in a game at the Final Four. Villanova already has made 10 and we still have nearly seven minutes to go in the first half. The Wildcats are 10 of 18 from distance and have a 14-point lead. Kansas has turned things around on the offensive end, but perimeter defense has shown itself to be an issue thus far. Villanova 34, Kansas 20.

10:25 — The barrage of 3-pointers continues for Villanova, but Kansas is starting to find it's footing. The Jayhawks fell behind 22-4, but now are on a 7-0 run to close the lead to 11. Villanova has attempted 16 shots in the game, 13 of them from 3-point range. Villanova 22, Kansas 11.

14:21 — The Wildcats are rolling. Villanova is on a different level than Kansas early, shooting 60 percent, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc. Kansas already has turned the ball over four times. Villanova 16, Kansas 4.

17:13 — Villanova is on fire from 3 early in the game. All nine of the Wildcats early points are from downtown. Omari Spellman, Eric Paschall and Mikal Bridges have a bucket each. Kansas is struggling early, and Bill Self wants a timeout. Villanova 9, Kansas 2.

GAME 1

SECOND HALF

0:00 — In the end, Michigan was too much for Loyola-Chicago. The Wolverines scored 27 of the games final 37 points and pulled away to advance to the national championship game. Michigan will play the winner of Villanova-Kansas, which tips off shortly. Michigan 69, Loyola-Chicago 57. FINAL.

1:39 — Loyola-Chicago went cold for the second time in the game, going without a point for nearly six minutes, and Michigan has taken advantage. Moe Wagner has taken over with 11 points during the past 10 minutes of play, and the Wolverines have opened a 8-point lead with time running out on the Ramblers. Wagner has 24. Michigan 61, Loyola-Chicago 53.

6:20 — Michigan has its first lead of the second half. Jordan Poole just hit a pair of free throws after a huge 3-pointer from Moe Wagner to put the Wolverines in front. Michigan 49, Loyola-Chicago 47.

7:31 — Scoring now is at a premium. Defense is stiffening and 3-pointers aren't falling on both sides. What little success each team has found during the past four minutes has been inside. Andre Jackson has shown himself to be a matchup problem for Michigan off the Loyola-Chicago bench. The senior has 10 points. Loyola-Chicago 47, Michigan 44.

11:25 — It's been a back-and-forth affair in the second half. Each time Loyola-Chicago looks like it may pull away, Michigan chips away at the lead. It's been a two-man show for the Wolverines, with Moe Wagner and Charles Matthews each scoring 13 points. The Rmblers are starting to extend their range a bit. Including hitting their first 3-pointer of the game. Loyola-Chicago 45, Michigan 39.

15:56 — Both teams have come out attacking inside, but Michigan did make a 3-pointer with 17:52 to go, the game's first made 3 since Moe Wagner hit a triple with 16:09 remaining in the first half. Cameron Krutwig is the first Rambler in double figures. He has 11. Loyola-Chicago 36, Michigan 29.

GAME 1 — FIRST HALF

0:00 — Everything went Loyola-Chicago's way in the final 10 minutes of the half. The Ramblers, who went the entire first half without a 3-pointer (0-for-3), penetrated for layups and got to the foul line to take a 7-point halftime lead. Michigan couldn't find its range from 3, shooting 2-of-13 from behind the arc. Both made three's came in the half's opening minutes. Moe Wagner finished the first half with half of Michigan's points (11) and 11 of the Wolverines' 21 rebounds. Loyola-Chicago 27, Michigan 22, Halftime.

3:40 — Loyola-Chicago is working the ball inside. The Ramblers don't have a 3-pointer through the game's first 16 minutes, but drives to the basket and solid perimeter defense have Loyola-Chicago in the lead. For Michigan, Moe Wagner is leading the way 11 point and nine rebounds. Loyola-Chicago 21, Michigan 19.

8:14 — Despite going nearly 8 minutes of game time without a field goal, Loyola-Chicago has clawed it's way back into the game. Aundre Jackson's layup with 10:18 on the clock ended the streak without a field goal. He has four free throws to go with the bucket, and it's a three-point Michigan lead. Michigan 15, Loyola-Chicago 12.

12:38 — It's a two-man game so far for Michigan as Charles Matthews and Moe Wagner have 10 of the Wolverines' 12 points. Loyola-Chicago can't buy a basket right now. After leading 4-3 in the game's opening minutes, they've gone cold and don't have a field goal in more than 5 minutes. Michigan 12, Loyola-Chicago 4.

15:43 — Michigan is living on the 3-pointer early. All six of it's points are from outside of the arch. Matthews and Wagner each have a basket. For Loyola-Chicago, the range from 3 isn't there, but good inside looks have them on the board. Michigan 6, Loyola-Chicago 4.

PREGAME

SAN ANTONIO — We're moments from tipoff for the opening game of the Final Four at the Alamodome, featuring Michigan and Loyola-Chicago. The winner will face either Kansas or Villanova in the NCAA Championship on Monday.

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